Diverse Books to Add to Your TBR

In these uncertain times I wanted to use my platform to bring attention to some BAME authors that deserve more attention and space on our bookshelves.

Previously I have been terrible with inclusivity on my own shelves and although my actions were unintentional it shows the lack of representation for BAME authors in the reading community. Therefore this list is just a handful of books that I'm going to work toward incorporating into my own TBR (to-be-read) list and I hope you do to!

Clap When You Land - Elizabeth Acevedo

• Young Adult

• Avg. Rating = 4.5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/clap-when-you-land/elizabeth-acevedo/9781471409127

I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite

• Motherhood/Parenting

• Avg. Rating = 5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/i-am-not-your-baby-mother/candice-brathwaite/9781529406276

How to Pronounce Knife - Souvankham Thammavongsa

• Contemporary Fiction

• Avg. Rating = 4/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/how-to-pronounce-knife/souvankham-thammavongsa/9781526610430

The Black Flamingo - Dean Atta

• Coming of Age/LGBTQ+

• Avg. Rating = 4.5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-black-flamingo/dean-atta/anshika-khullar/9781444948608

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly - Danielle Jawando

• Trigger Warning; suicide, serious bullying

• Grief/YA

• Avg. Rating = 5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/and-the-stars-were-burning-brightly/danielle-jawando/9781471178771

A Drop of Midnight: A Memoir - Jason Diakité

• Memoir

• Avg. Rating = 4.5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-drop-of-midnight/jason-diakite/rachel-willson-broyles/9781542016704

Conjure Women - Afia Atakora

• Historical Fiction

• Avg. Rating = 4.5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/conjure-women/afia-atakora/9780008293918

Catherine House - Elisabeth Thomas

• Gothic Romance/Fantasy

• Avg. Rating = 3.5/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/catherine-house/elisabeth-thomas/9781472262431

Rainbow Milk - Paul Mendez

• General Fiction/LGBTQ+

• Avg. Rating = 4/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/rainbow-milk/paul-mendez/9780349700595

Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams

• General Fiction

• Avg. Rating = 4/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/queenie/candice-carty-williams/9781409180074

My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite

• Mystery/Thriller

• Avg. Rating = 4/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/my-sister-the-serial-killer/oyinkan-braithwaite/9781786495983

An American Marriage - Tayari Jones

• Contemporary

• Avg. Rating = 4/5

• https://www.waterstones.com/book/an-american-marriage/tayari-jones/9781786075192

Please let me know if you have read any of these already, or if you have anymore that you would recommend!

If you are not in a financial position to donate to the causes directly you can watch this YouTube video that donates all Ad proceeds to various funds and causes related to the Black Lives Matter movement: elves like I have done. Many publishing companies have released their own lists of books they recommend so they're definitely worth looking at as well! s

If you want to support the Black Lives Matter movement please consider signing these petitions, or donating to these causes (some are specific to the UK, where I am based):

PETITIONS:

• https://www.change.org/p/suspend-uk-export-of-tear-gas-rubber-bullets-and-riot-shields-to-usa?source_location=petitions_browse

• https://www.change.org/p/department-of-education-battle-racism-by-updating-reading-lists-at-gcse?source_location=petitions_browse

• https://www.change.org/p/minnesota-police-department-justice-for-george-floyd?source_location=petitions_browse

• https://www.change.org/p/gavin-williamson-mp-teach-british-children-about-the-realities-of-british-imperialism-and-colonialism?source_location=petitions_browse

• https://www.change.org/p/gavin-williamson-make-white-privilege-and-systemic-racism-a-compulsory-part-of-the-british-education-course?source_location=petitions_browse

DONATE:

• https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd

• https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

• https://secure.givelively.org/donate/the-bail-project

• https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd

• https://secure.everyaction.com/4omQDAR0oUiUagTu0EG-Ig2

• https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019

• https://www.gofundme.com/f/rip-belly-mujinga

If you are not in a financial position to donate to the cause directly you can watch this YouTube video that donates all AD proceeds to various funds and causes related to the Black Lives Matter movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCgLa25fDHM&feature=youtu.be (a full list of organisations is listed at the beginning of the video)